The Ultimate Comeback Queens—30 Best Perennial Flowers to Feature in Your Garden for Years and Years
When the warm weather hits, most of us find ourselves spending a lot of time outdoors. With more time outside, we may want to make our surroundings as pretty as possible. Luckily, that's easy to do with landscaping, outdoor seating areas, and some beautiful plants and flowers. In fact, you may want a large plant and flower garden that is full of colorful blooms all season. By picking the right mix of annual and perennial flowers, you can have plenty of color from early spring to late fall. We've rounded up the best perennial flowers that you will definitely want as part of your garden.
Because everyone lives in different climates, there isn't a one size fits all situation. However, many of the perennial flowers are adaptable to a large number of regions. With all of the varieties out there, you can pick and choose from our list to get the perfect mix for you. Some of the considerations to think of are how much shade or sun you get in your yard and if you have pets roaming around. A few of the perennials are toxic to animals. Also, if you want to attract hummingbirds or butterflies, there are some perfect flowers for that.
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What Are Perennial Flowers?
Perennials are flowers that live for at least two years—however, most of them have an average life of between three and fifteen years. This means that after you plant and enjoy them for one season, you can expect them to keep coming back in the following years, which is different than annual flowers. Annuals only last for one season, so you have to replant the following year.
This might make you wonder why you shouldn't plant only perennial flowers since you get such a bang for your buck. There is a good reason for this: Even though perennials come back every year, their actual bloom time can be fairly short. Annuals, on the other hand, can stay in full bloom from spring to the first frost.
A "perfect" flower garden will have a variety of perennials that bloom at differing times to ensure some color all season. Then, to keep some constant color, annuals should be planted throughout.
Related: What Is Your State Flower? Your Guide to All 50 Blooms from Alabama to Wyoming
Best Perennial Flowers
There are so many beautiful perennial flowers to choose from. The best ones for you will be those that grow well in your particular zone. You can find your zone by viewing the USDA Plant Hardiness map. Once you know your zone, look for the tags in the flowers that you are interested in to see what zone they grow well in. The tags will also indicate the amount of sun and watering required to keep the flowers healthy. Only buy the flowers that fit your area.
This list of perennial flowers includes a variety of different zones as well as different bloom times to keep your garden rich in color all season or even the entire year. There are varieties for spring, summer, fall and even winter! Here are some of our favorites.
1. Daylily
Daylilies are hardy flowers that do well in many zones. In fact, you can plant daylilies in zones 4-11 and certain varieties have even done well in zone 2 and 3 as well. The best time to plant daylilies is in the spring and you can expect blooms until fall (if the deer stay away from them!)
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2. Hardy Geranium
Although you can buy geraniums that are either annuals or perennials, a hardy geranium (or cranesbill geranium) is a perennial. As the name suggests, these geraniums grow well in many environments. They can handle full sun as well as partial shade and can handle many types of soil. Geraniums begin to bloom in the spring and continue through mid-summer.
Perennial Farm Marketplace Geranium s. 'Max Frei' (Cranes Bill) Groundcover, Size-#1 Container, Deep Magenta Flowers
3. Shasta Daisy
Shasta daisies are another hardy perennial and the good news is that they are also deer- and drought-resistant. Unfortunately, the life of the shasta daisy is only about three years, which puts it at the shorter end of the scale. This flower is best grown in hardiness zones 5-9.
Outsidepride Perennial Chrysanthemum Shasta Daisy Wild Flowers Great for Cutting - 5000 Seeds
4. Lavender
What's not to like about lavender? Besides the pretty lavender-colored blooms, the scent is wonderful. It's used in essential oils, soaps and teas. They like plenty of sunshine and sandy soil. Typically, lavender blooms in the summer and you can expect to see it flowering for about three to four weeks.
3 Live Lavandula angustifolia 'Munstead' Starter Lavender Perennial Plants. Super Healthy. Ready to Plant.
5. Columbine
Columbines are another short-lived perennial that lasts about three years. They are spring flowers that don't tolerate heat well. Columbines come in a variety of colors like pink, red, blue and yellow. The red columbines, in particular, are good attractants for hummingbirds.
Blue Columbine Seeds for Planting (Aquilegia Seeds) - Beautiful Blue Perennial Flower to Plant in Your Flower Garden Open Pollinated, Non-GMO by Gardeners Basics
Related: What Is Your Birth Flower? Find Out the Meaning Behind the Blooms for Each Month
6. Chrysanthemum
Chrysanthemums are very popular flowers for the fall season. In fact, you probably know them simply as mums. Their vivid colors do well with warming up and extending color in a flower garden throughout fall. Even though they bloom in the fall, it's best to plant them in the spring to get their roots established.
200-Mixed Color Chrysanthemum Seeds-Rare Ground Cover Landscape
7. Peony
Peonies love full sun and a minimum of six hours of daily sunlight is required. They are beautiful flowers with a long life. They will continue coming back for fifteen years or more. You can expect to see the blooms from late spring through early summer.
100+ Mixed Peony Flower Seeds
8. Coneflower
Coneflowers will grow from two to four feet tall, making them great for areas you need a little height. The flowers like the sun and will bloom from June through August. They are another species of flower that tends to be long-lived.
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9. Black-Eyed Susan
Similar to the coneflower or daisy, black-eyed Susans also need full sun and are quite tall. Lots of songbirds like to eat the seeds of this flower and they also provide shelter for small animals.
Sweet Yards Seed Co. Black Eyed Susan Seeds – Extra Large Packet – Over 100,000 Open Pollinated Non-GMO Wildflower Seeds – Rudbeckia hirta
10. Hellebore
Hellebores take a long time to begin growing. It can take three to five years to go from seed to bloom. Because of that, it's best to buy hellebore plants if you want to see blooms sooner. However, because of the long growth time, the plants are more expensive than other perennials. Luckily, though, once you have them they are animal-resistant since they are poisonous to them. However, this also means that if you have pets, you may want to reconsider having them in your garden.
Lenten Rose/ Hellebore Mix 5 Bareroot Plants Great for Fall Planting!!!
11. Iris
Irises come in a variety of colors and grow up to two to three feet high. They are quite hardy and bloom in the spring and summer. If you like to see butterflies, irises will attract them!
Bearded Iris Mixed Colors 5 Bulbs Plant #BV06
12. Salvia
Salvia is also known as sage and is a pretty mid-summer bloomer. It attracts bees and butterflies but is also deer- and rabbit-resistant. Besides purple, salvia comes in blue, red, pink and white. They will last all summer because they are heat and drought-tolerant.
Survival Garden Seeds - Victoria Blue Sage Seed for Planting - Packet with Instructions to Plant and Grow Mealycup Sage or Salvia Farinacea in Your Home Vegetable Garden - Non-GMO Heirloom Variety
13. Hydrangea
Hydrangea bushes grow tall—would you believe the bushes get as tall as 15 feet? It's a good idea to prune the shrubs each year to keep them healthy. They grow best in partial sun/partial shade and in moist, well-drained soil.
Endless Summer Collection - Hydrangea mac. Endless Summer BloomStruck (Reblooming Hydrangea) Shrub, RB purple, #3 - Size Container
14. Rose
The most romantic flower of all, the rose makes such a statement to any perennial garden. There are a wide variety of rose types to choose from in many assorted colors. Roses tend to bloom the best in June which is probably why June's birth flower is the rose.
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15. Tulip
Although tulips are technically a perennial, they have been hybridized for so long that it's been harder to get them to come back each year. The western mountainous regions of the U.S. provide the best climate and success for perennial tulips. In other regions, it works best to dig up the bulbs after the leaves have turned yellow, let them dry and then store them in a cool dark area like a basement. Then, replant those same bulbs again in the fall. Even though they require some extra work, it is well worth it when you see the vibrant display of color in the spring.
QAUZUY GARDEN Red Matador Jumbo Tulip 100 Seeds Liliaceae Perennial Showy Stunning Spring Bulbs Seeds for Garden Home Striking Flower Easy to Grow
Related: What Are Annual Plants? Plus, Gorgeous Annual Varieties That Make for a Stunning Garden
16. Phlox
Different types of phlox will bloom at different times. You can find them labeled as early season, mid-season and late season. They like full sun and well-drained soil is preferred.
Mountain Phlox Flower Seeds, 1000+ Flower Seeds Per Packet, Non GMO & Heirloom Seeds, (Isla's Garden Seeds), Scientific Name: Phlox stansburyi
17. Bee Balm
Bee balm flowers in mid to late summer. It attracts hummingbirds, bees and butterflies, and it repels mosquitos, which is a win-win. However, you may want to be careful with how many of these you plant because they are also known for developing a fungus. If you live in an area with humid nights and somewhat cool days, you'll be more likely to see this fungus which is a powdery gray or white residue on the leaves.
Outsidepride Monarda Didyma Bee Balm Flower Seed Mix for Butterflies, Hummingbirds, & Pollinators - 500 Seeds
18. Amsonia
Also known as Bluestar, amsonia is a pretty flower that begins to bloom in late spring or early summer. Even after the blooms fade, the plant still looks pretty and in the fall the foliage turns bright yellow.
Proven Winners AMSPWP1026102 'String Theory' (Amsonia) Live Plant, 1 Gallon, Blue
19. Lilac
Lilacs are fragrant flowers that have blooms in the spring. The bushes do grow big and can get as tall as fifteen feet and as wide as twelve feet. With all of that mass, it's no wonder they are so fragrant!
Proven Winners - Syringa x Bloomerang Dark Purple (Reblooming Lilac) Shrub, dark purple flowers, #3 - Size Container
20. Yarrow
If you like a dainty but wild look, then yarrows are for you. This flower will spread so if you want to keep it more contained, it will require some extra care. The good thing is that they are easy to grow and maintain.
TKE Farms - White Yarrow Seeds for Planting, 500 milligrams ~ 3000 Seeds, Achillea millefolium
21. Sedum
The clusters of star-shaped flowers that make up sedum are beautiful in a garden. They grow 6-24 inches tall and come in a variety of colors. Sedum requires full to partial sun and will last for many years.
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22. Goldenrod
Goldenrod is bright yellow and typically blooms from July through September. It's a great one to have in the garden since a lot of other flowers bloom earlier than that. They are also great for providing nectar to butterflies and bees.
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23. Astrantia
Also known as masterwort, astrantia is a beautiful shade-loving flower. It grows one to two feet tall and comes in a wide variety of colors. The plant is suitable for zones 4-9 as long as you have shade.
CHUXAY GARDEN Astrantia Major Rosea,Great Masterwort 45 Seeds Hardy Perennial Lovely Flowers Easy Grow Bloom Late Spring to Early Summer Great for Garden
24. Lupine
Lupines are a great flower to border your garden as they are animal resistant and attract pollinators like butterflies and hummingbirds. You may not want these around if you have outdoor pets, however, since they are poisonous to animals.
Outsidepride Perennial Russells Lupine Wild Flower Mix & Butterflies & Hummingbirds - 500 Seeds
25. Aster
Asters grow best in areas with cool moist summers and full to partial sun. They bloom from late summer to early fall and grow from one to six feet tall. And, if you live near the woods, you'll be happy to know that these are also deer resistant.
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26. Coreopsis
Coreopsis or Tickseed is a vibrant flower that blooms from late spring to late summer. This plant will last from three to five years and is low maintenance. It is quite hardy and good for zones 3-9.
Sweet Yards Seed Co. Plains Coreopsis Seeds – Native Flowers – Extra Large Packet – Over 100,000 Open Pollinated Non-GMO Wildflower Seeds – Coreopsis tinctorial
27. Spiderwort
Spiderwort is also known as tradescantia. Even though the name is not that attractive, the flower is quite pretty. You want to be careful in touching it though. Its leaves and sap can cause skin irritations in people with sensitivities. Spiderwort blooms from late spring to mid-summer.
Ohio Spiderwort- Tradescantia- 50 Seeds
28. Allium
Alliums add a pretty pouf of color in an ornamental way. These flowers do give off an oniony smell but this makes them a deterrent to most animals. The reason they smell like onions is because they are actually a cousin to onions, leeks and garlic.
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29. Astilbe
Astilbes are also known as "false goat's beard." They are slow-growing plants that get between one to four feet tall. Although they can thrive in full sun, astilbes do best in partial shade.
30. Dianthus
Dianthus are such quaint and pretty little flowers that are also known as pinks. Most varieties will grow from 10-20 inches tall and they bloom from spring to early summer. They are also low-maintenance.
Dianthus Sweet Mixed Color Flowers Dianthus Seeds Sweet William Mix- 200 Seeds
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